Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
very busy at weekends and holidays when the restaurant puts on large barbecues. Wi-fi
was in the works at the time of our visit.
You'll have no problem finding a
tro-tro
(C0.50, 15 minutes) to Cape Coast along the
main road.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cape Coast
POP 217,000
Forever haunted by the ghosts of the past, Cape Coast is one of the most culturally signi-
ficant spots in Africa. This former European colonial capital, originally named Cabo
Corso by the Portuguese, was once the largest slave-trading centre in West Africa. At the
height of the slave trade it received a workforce from locations as far away as Niger and
Burkina Faso, and slaves were kept locked up in the bowels of Cape Coast's imposing
castle. From the shores of this seaside town, slaves were herded onto vessels like cattle, ir-
revocably altering the lives of generations to come.
Today, Cape Coast is an easygoing fishing town with an arty vibe, fanned by salty sea
breezes and kissed by peeling waves. Crumbling colonial buildings still line the streets,
while seabirds prowl the beaches and fishermen cast nets where slave ships once sailed.
Many travellers use Cape Coast as a base to explore Kakum National Park, Anomabu and
even Elmina.
Sights & Activities
You'll notice the ruins of Fort William, which dates from 1820 and now functions as a
lighthouse, and Fort Victoria, originally built in 1702, on the town's hills, but you are ad-
vised not to venture to either because of muggings.
